Examining the Book of Ephesians
Overview
Author: Ephesians 1:1 identifies the author of the Book of Ephesians as the apostle Paul.
Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
Date of Writing: The Book of Ephesians was very likely written between A.D. 60-63.
Purpose of Writing: Paul intended that all who long for Christ-like maturity would receive this writing. Enclosed within the Book of Ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of God. Furthermore, a study in Ephesians will help to fortify and to establish the believer so he can fulfil the purpose and calling God has given. The aim of this epistle is to confirm and to equip a maturing church. It presents a balanced view of the body of Christ and its importance in God's economy.
Key Verses: Ephesians 1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Chris
Ephesians 2:8-10: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 4:4-6: There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Ephesians 5:21: Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Ephesians 6:10-11: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil
Brief Summary: Doctrine occupies the greatest portion of the Book of Ephesians. Half of the teaching in this epistle relates to our standing in Christ, and the remainder of it affects our condition. All too often those who teach from this book bypass all the foundational instruction and go directly to the closing chapter. It is this chapter that emphasizes the warfare or the struggle of the saints. However, to benefit fully from the contents of this epistle, one must begin at the beginning of Paul's instruction in this letter.
First, as followers of Christ, we must fully understand who God declares us to be. We must also become grounded in the knowledge of God's accomplishment for all humanity. Next, our present existence and walk must become exercised and strengthened. This must continue until we no longer totter or stagger back and forth with every spirit of teaching and subtlety of men.
Paul’s writing breaks down into three main segments. (1) Chapters one through three introduce principles with respect to God's accomplishment. (2) Chapters four and five put forth principles regarding our present existence. (3) Chapter six presents principles concerning our daily struggle.
Connections: The primary link to the Old Testament in Ephesians is in the startling (to the Jews) concept of the church as the body of Christ (Ephesians 5:32). This amazing mystery (a truth not previously revealed) of the church, is that “the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6). This was a mystery completely hidden from the Old Testament saints (Ephesians 3:5, 9). The Israelites who were true followers of God always believed they alone were God’s chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6). Accepting Gentiles on an equal status in this new paradigm was extremely difficult and caused many disputes among Jewish believers and Gentile converts. Paul also speaks of the mystery of the church as the “bride of Christ,” a previously unheard-of concept in the Old Testament.
Practical Application: Perhaps more than any other book of the Bible, the Book of Ephesians emphasizes the connection between sound doctrine and right practice in the Christian life. Far too many people ignore "theology" and instead want to only discuss things that are "practical." In Ephesians, Paul argues that theology is practical. In order to live out God's will for us in our lives practically, we must first understand who we are in Christ doctrinally.
The Book of Ephesians outline as shown below from the Wycliffe Bible Commentary:
Book of Ephesians Outline
I. The believer's position in Christ. 1:1-3:21.
A. Salutation. 1:1,2.
B. All spiritual blessings. 1:3-14.
• Chosen by the Father. 1:3-6.
• Redeemed by the Son. 1:7-12.
• Sealed by the Holy Spirit. 1:13,14.
C. Paul's first prayer. 1:15-23.
D. Salvation by grace. 2:1-10.
• What we were in the past. 2:1-3.
• What we are in the present. 2:4-6.
• What we shall be in the future. 2:7-10.
E. Oneness of Jews and Gentiles in Christ. 2:11-22.
• What the Gentiles were without Christ. 2:11,12.
• The one body. 2:13-18.
• The one building. 2:19-22.
F. The revelation of the mystery. 3:1-13.
• The dispensation of the grace of God. 3:1-6.
• The fellowship of the mystery. 3:7-13.
G. Paul's second prayer. 3:14-21.
II. The believer's conduct in the world. 4:1-6:24.
A. The worthy walk. 4:1-16.
• The unity of the Spirit. 4:1-6.
• The gift of Christ. 4:7-12.
• The unity of faith and knowledge. 4:13-16.
B. The different walk. 4:17-32.
• Description of the Gentiles' walk. 4:17-19.
• Putting off the old and putting on the new. 4:20-24.
• Practical application. 4:25-32.
C. The loving walk. 5:1-14.
• Walking in love. 5:1-7.
• Walking in light. 5:8-14.
D. The wise walk. 5:15-6:9.
• Being circumspect. 5:15-17.
• Being filled with the Holy Spirit. 5:18-6:9.
• Rejoicing and thanksgiving. 5:19,20.
• Submission in practical relationships. 5:21-6:9.
• Wives and husbands. 5:21-33.
• Children and parents. 6:1-4.
• Servants and masters. 6:5-9.
E. The Christian Walk as warfare. 6:10-20.
• Being strong in the Lord-the whole armor of God. 6:10-17.
• Prayer for all saints and for Paul. 6:18-20.
F. Closing greetings. 6:21-24.
Chapter 1.
I. Paul’s Salutation
Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Eph 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
1. Paul the Apostle
a. Apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelist are chosen by God.
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
b. When God chooses it is always recognised by God’s people.
c. David is Chosen to be King. Samuel anoints David to be King. 2Sa 2:4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.
d. We see in the New Testament it was men of God that heard from God that did the ordaining
Paul and Barnabas
Act 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed
Paul was Chosen by God not man.
Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
But his ministry was recognised by the church
Act 9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
Act 9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
His missionary journeys had the approval of the church
Act 13:1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Act 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Act 13:3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
2. To The Saints And Faithful
Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
a. this is not two sets of people
b. we want to look at what is a saint
c. The false teaching of the Roman Catholic Church as created a false idea of what is saint.
d. Some have the idea that a saint is a special Christian that has lived a really godly life s dead, and had been proclaimed a sait by the pope.
e. This teaching goes against scripture.
• The bible does not teach the pope make saints
• The bible teacher all true Christians are saints
• The bible calls living Christians saints
• The bible teaches you become a saint when you are born again not after you die.
f. What the Bible says about saints
g. The bible teaches that a Christian is saint while he is alive.
Act 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
Act 9:32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.
Rom 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom 15:25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
h. Saints are not a people that have reached super spiritual level and become paragons of virtue
1Co 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
1Co 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
1Co 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
The true meaning of saint
The idea of the word “saint” is a group of people set apart for the Lord and His kingdom. There are three references referring to godly character of saints; "that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints …" (Romans 16:2). "For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12). "But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints" (Ephesians 5:3).
Therefore, scripturally speaking, the “saints” are the body of Christ, Christians, the church. All Christians are considered saints. All Christian are saints…and at the same time are called to be saints. 1 Corinthians 1:2 states it clearly, “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy…” The words “sanctified” and “holy” come from the same Greek root as the word that is commonly translated “saints.” Christians are saints by virtue of their connection with Jesus Christ. Christians are called to be saints, to increasingly allow their daily life to more closely match their position in Christ. This is the Biblical description and calling of the saints.
